Starting strong safety Donte Whitner hopes to play despite being listed as questionable.

Whitner's been nursing a separated shoulder since Buffalo's loss to the Jets two weeks ago. He missed his first game of the season last week in a loss to New England.

"I'm feeling good," Whitner said after Friday's practice. "We'll see how it goes. I expect to play, and I want to play, but it's up to (the coaches and trainers). It depends on how I progress over the next two days."

Whitner, a Cleveland native, has been limited in practice all week, but said his range of motion with the shoulder isn't an issue. He's been getting treatment four to five times each day to help speed his recovery.

"It was a severe injury, so you have to take it one step at a time," he said. "Anytime there's a football game, I feel if it's not broken I want to be out there."

Tight end Robert Royal (ankle) and rookie receiver James Hardy (hip) are both questionable after being limited in Friday's practice.

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